Brock has seen a significant jump in the number of applications from Ontario high school students wanting to study at the University this fall.

Applications for undergraduate programs rose by 13 per cent overall this year, with each of Brock’s six Faculties seeing their own increases.

The rising interest in applying to Brock far outpaced the average increase to university applications across the province, which was 2.9 per cent.

Brock Ambassador Kathryn Van Kampen leads a campus tour in advance of Fall Preview Day in October, which drew thousands of prospective students and their families to Brock’s main campus.

Some of the growth in demand for a Brock education was driven by innovative new programs such as Data Sciences and Analytics and Earth and Planetary Science Communication. Programs historically in demand — including Sport Management, Psychology, Computer Science, Business Administration and Concurrent Education — also continue to see a high level of interest.

Ontario high schoolers also continue to apply in significant numbers to Brock’s Nursing program, which is well known for integrating classroom knowledge with practical, clinical skills development.

Programs in the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts also saw a significant increase in applications this year.

“While it’s still early in the recruitment cycle, the level of interest in Brock signals that an increasing number of high school students are aware of Brock’s reputation for providing an outstanding student experience and a job-ready education,” says Lesley Rigg, Brock’s President and Vice-Chancellor. “I commend our Recruitment team for their stellar efforts in connecting with as many prospective students as possible, and look forward to welcoming a new class of Badgers to Brock in September.”

For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, the Student Recruitment team was able to run in-person activities, including visiting every high school in Ontario, taking part in the Ontario Universities’ Fair, and welcoming thousands of prospective students to campus for tours and other programming.

The team also works with University Marketing and Communications on digital and traditional marketing, leveraging the University’s refreshed brand and using innovative approaches to reach young people on platforms like TikTok, Spotify, mobile games and more.

Ads like this, which leverage the University’s refreshed branding and emphasize the ability to “break through” at Brock, have been running on a wide range of digital platforms since September.

“The increase in applications from Ontario high school students is just one of several positive trends in enrolment,” says Matt Melnyk, Director of Student Recruitment. “Current patterns also indicate growth in applications from international students, which is welcome news after several years of significant disruption to international student mobility.”

While applications are an early sign of increased interest in Brock, the next few months are crucial in the decision-making process. The Admissions team is actively reviewing applications and extending offers to qualified applicants, and the Recruitment team is preparing to deliver a suite of activities aimed at ensuring admitted students ultimately choose Brock. These include campus tours, text messaging and phone call campaigns, March Break tours and a spring Open House scheduled for April 2.

Applications from all prospective student groups will continue to be accepted by Brock through the coming months until programs reach capacity. Application deadlines for graduate programs vary by program and can be found on the graduate programs web page.